Day 49

Spivey Gap to Erwin 11.2 miles – AT mile 344.6

Card of the day – 0 The Fool

Again I was woken up through the night by cars and trucks on the road and then finally by the dawn chorus just before 6am.  It just goes to show that we are not really in the wilderness, it just feels that way some time.

Pop tarts, honey buns and coffee for breakfast, it’s the 6th day out from town so food supplies are low.  I really need to work on my resupply game!

I got out just after 7.30 and I’m getting my own hotel room in town tonight.  I’ve been surrounded by people to long and need a hot bath!

Poor Underhill had the fright of his life when I was taking down my bear bag, the branch snapped and came down and he came running out expecting to fight off a bear!  I guess we’re still not quite over the standing bear incident with Omar!

The start of todays hike was a good climb out of the gap with a stream cascading down at your side.  I really love the sound of water rushing past.  It’s mostly then a gradual undulation of ups and downs for a few miles.

After you get over the final peak it’s a good downhill all the way to town. You get views over the river and the town teasing you as you go.  All I can hear is “Beer!”

You come out of the woods at Uncle Johnnies, and I spent a few moments talking to fellow hikers.  The hostel is a couple of miles out of town and so I start to walk up the road to my final destination of the day.  As I was walking a truck pulls up and I got a shuttle from G-Man, who just pulled up by me and asked if I wanted a ride.  We spoke about the Camino, as that was something he was interested in hiking in the future, and I shared the details of the John book with him.  Looking back I really should have told him that John Lies!!!

In town I had to buy new shoes.  I’ve been looking for replacements for my current ones, but it turns out no one really stocks Merrell’s.  I got to the outfitters in town and after discussing my options I was shown a fridge with cold beers in that were trail magic!  I had a beer, did a quick check on the logistics of trying to order shoes to post offices and decided enough was enough and that I just needed new shoes.  The guy in the shop then spent over an hour with me finding the right shoes for me.  I opted for some Topo’s, and they come in green which is even better as that’s my favourite colour.

After hitting the outfitters I made my way to the tap house and enjoyed some local beers.  At about 5pm the guys let me know they were heading out and I started the long walk to join them.  They were at some Mexican by their hotel.  They had met Pony and Queso earlier in the day and there must have been 8 of them at dinner.  I get there an hour later and order food, just chatting to the people around me, not wanting to intrude too much on the group dynamic that had built over dinner.  I was still eating when Pony and Queso left, Pony said he was sorry that he had not met me earlier but wished me well.  He also brought a case of beer for Kegstand, who’s birthday it is tomorrow.  Why I did not know at the time was that Pony and Queso has paid my dinner bill!  Big shout out to you.  I think they have been on the mighty blue podcast so I really need to try and reach out and thank them!

Finally a few more beers in the other tap house and a lift home from Jack, Underhill’s flat mate, who has joined us for the weekend!